For example, we had just been on Ometepe a day or two and one afternoon between morning and evening classes, we decided to go for a walk. One of us tries to remember to bring a camera each time we wander about. This time, we both were packing. We had stopped to take a picture of this sign:
The volcano erupted! The volcano erupted! |
So, I took the picture (above) and Bex! was trying to get in position to get the shot she wanted, when she just about stepped on this:
You put your left foot in, you pull your left foot out... |
On another walk in the first week, we decided to go the opposite direction up the road (toward San Ramon; away from the dead snake) when we came across this young boy herding cattle. Kids in this part of the world, as in many others, have to work way too young.
Spanish speaking cows say "mu"; Spanglish ones say "mu-moo" |
Speaking of monkeys, there is a small island just off Ometepe called Monkey Island. There are a bunch of capuchin monkeys that were released there from captivity. Some were chained in zoos or were private pets that outgrew 'cute'. We kayaked out there one morning and saw them in the trees. Or more accurately, they saw us coming long before we spotted them. Visitors are warned not to get too close to the island because its residents can be aggressive, even trying to jump into your boat. As we approached, we could see the branches moving a la the T-Rex scene in 'Jurassic Park'. Suddenly, the monkeys appeared! As we paddled around the island, they followed along in the trees. It was cool - and a little eerie, too. "Just a little closer. Come on. Let 'em get a little bit closer. Everyone act cuddly."
There are squirrels on Ometepe! Yep, pretty big ones, too. And, weirdest thing, they chew holes in the coconuts, holes large enough to fit their heads inside and they eat the coconut meat! All around Hacienda Merida there are holey coconuts on the ground.
Color coded to match the coconut tree |
Bex! is good at taking pictures of flowers and insects, trying to capture the latter inside the former. Here are five shots - bees, flowers, butterflies:
Injury works to the photographers advantage (this guy had a shredded wing and was less flighty) |
There goes my bee |
There goes my bee. Again. |
There we are |
Just expressing my innate pigness here |
Let's see - what else... oh, yeah! I picked up a suitcase in our room and there was a huge toad sitting there. Gross! He wasn't a cute little frog - he was a fat ugly toad. To me, he looked a little like this:
Ya koon tacha poonoo nee sah, gee (Your powers will not work on me, boy) |
There is an iguana who wanders about the grounds. There's a Russian guy named Yuri who works here. Told me "Iguana good food". We've seen Iggy a few times and here is a pic of him:
Things are getting prehistoric up in here |
Buenos Noches, Fiona |
Why aren't you wiggling your nose? |
On the list of things we don't want in our bed: Bex! got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. I woke up to take my turn when she was done. We use a flashlight to get from the bed to the bathroom and thank goodness we do, because when she came out of the bathroom, her light picked up one of these guys scurrying across the floor:
Not our picture; it's from the innerwebs |
Just two days ago (Thursday) Bex! was sitting in the common area when she heard a 'splat' behind her. As she turned around, the stench hit her. There on the concrete was what was left of an iguana. By the smell of it, it had been dead some time. By the looks of it, it had been picked clean by one of the many vultures that live on the island. His tail and legs were mostly intact but he was nothing but bones and connective tissue above that. Except most of his head was there, too. Number 2 on the list of things that fell out of the sky.
Number three on that list happened just today. Bex! was across the way enjoying some hammock time and I was in the common area writing the previous blog post, when it was my turn to hear something falling from above. I turned around to see a stick on the ground. No big deal - until it moved. Snake!! This elicited all kinds of excitement, for the gringoes anyway. It looked so much like a tree branch, as you'll see it the pictures:
It's a branch... with a head! |
You lookin' at me? |
When I was 7-8 years old, my family lived on Guam. Dad was stationed there. I remember bits and pieces, some through memories shared by my older siblings and parents over the years. But one thing I DO remember is sleeping grass.
Pat, Jim, Bob, Rich and Susan, this one's for you!!
And finally, the last little morsel to share with you is what happens in Nicaragua if you die here. This video is fascinatingly morbid and morbidly fascinating. Bex! found this procession one evening. The little guy was only 2-2.5" long. Pretty awesome stuff!
Note to my buddy George: Please use any or all of this in your class!
Fun with animals!!
Ok so about the only 2 things I could remotely handle in this post are the donkey and the rabbit. Dang. I will see you when you two get back. Me no likey snakes, bugs, aggressive monkeys, pigs and gecko funerals!!!! Sleeping grass was cool. Love you! Pat
ReplyDeleteYes, there is lots of formication here (medical term for the sensation bugs are crawling your skin). Usually it's sweat dripping, a hair, wind, etc. today it happened to be a beatle on my finger and I admit I shrieked.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics and videos! Keep it coming.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be a little New Orleans dirge in the procession with the gecko, I think. Where did it end up?
ReplyDeleteNot sure where it went, but it was gone the next morning.
ReplyDelete